ESPN Dallas: Dez Bryant breaks out with mentor Jon Kitna

[WoodysGirl]

Nov 16
10:04
AM CT

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By Tim MacMahon

IRVING, Texas -- Roy Williams isn’t the only Cowboys’ receiver who had a strong relationship with Jon Kitna (http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4674596/dez-bryant-breaks-out-with-mentor-jon-kitna#comments) before the backup quarterback was pushed into starting duty.

It’s just that Dez Bryant’s rapport with Kitna wasn’t common knowledge.

“He's somebody that when Tony was playing, I was trying to talk to Dez for Tony, to get him to see things the same way that Tony sees them or the way the quarterback is seeing them,” Kitna said. “Now that I'm playing, I've kind of folded it into a relationship where we have pretty good communication.”

Kitna considers part of the backup quarterback’s job to be teaching young receivers how to make a quarterback’s job easier.

Read more about Dez-Kitna's relationship: [URL]http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4674596/dez-bryant-breaks-out-with-mentor-jon-kitna

[jobberone]

Now that's a great team player. We're lucky to have Kitna.

[Chuck 54]

What I hope is that Tony is watching Kitna closely in these final games from the sideline.

Tony is definitely more talented, and has proven himself as a franchise QB. Like Kitna, in the end he'll just be another good QB if he doesn't win a championship, though.

Every QB can learn from the sidelines, and most come back sharper mentally. From my vantage point, Kitna is much more careful with the football...sure int's go off receivers' hands, but Kitna throws the ball away or checks down even when it means a punt...yet when he sees one of his big receivers in man to man coverage, he's not afraid to let it fly and give them a chance to make a play.

Tony is our guy, but he can only get better if he's doing his due diligence on the sidelines and in meetings.

[Doomsday101]

What I hope is that Tony is watching Kitna closely in these final games from the sideline.

Tony is definitely more talented, and has proven himself as a franchise QB. Like Kitna, in the end he'll just be another good QB if he doesn't win a championship, though.

Every QB can learn from the sidelines, and most come back sharper mentally. From my vantage point, Kitna is much more careful with the football...sure int's go off receivers' hands, but Kitna throws the ball away or checks down even when it means a punt...yet when he sees one of his big receivers in man to man coverage, he's not afraid to let it fly and give them a chance to make a play.

Tony is our guy, but he can only get better if he's doing his due diligence on the sidelines and in meetings.

I agree and I have seen several shot with Romo on the bench talking with Kitna through out the game.

[Idgit]

Now, this was a really good topic for a story. *Much* more interesting than Marion Barber's Pants.

[CCBoy]

I guess that Jerry Jones was pretty smart to have signed Tony Romo to a long termed contract and then to have traded for Jon Kitna. Too bad he doesn't do anything as a GM....

[aikemirv]

What I hope is that Tony is watching Kitna closely in these final games from the sideline.

Tony is definitely more talented, and has proven himself as a franchise QB. Like Kitna, in the end he'll just be another good QB if he doesn't win a championship, though.

Every QB can learn from the sidelines, and most come back sharper mentally. From my vantage point, Kitna is much more careful with the football...sure int's go off receivers' hands, but Kitna throws the ball away or checks down even when it means a punt...yet when he sees one of his big receivers in man to man coverage, he's not afraid to let it fly and give them a chance to make a play.

Tony is our guy, but he can only get better if he's doing his due diligence on the sidelines and in meetings.

Not that Tony can't learn but I believe (without looking) that Kitna has been an int machine throughout his career. Now I will go look and edit.

Kitna 1/1 ratio td to INt
Romo 2/1 TD/INt ratio.

Kitna has great games and follows them up with terrible. I love him as a backup because he CAN wing it but lets not start some nonsense that he takes better care of the ball than Romo - we need to nip that in the bud Barney.

[koolaid]

I hate to say it... but I kinda like Kitna. He looks like a giant baby but he says all the right things.

[Primetime42]

In b4 the Romo bashing.

[michaeljr1186]

kitna played like a beast on sunday. redemption time!! wheeee

[percyhoward]

Kitna has great games and follows them up with terrible.
Unfortunately this is true.

Romo's consistency is one of the main things that set him apart from an average QB like our backup--who still is better than anybody who started for us at that position between Aikman and Romo.

[CCBoy]

With the Cowboys, and a starter...it looks to me that he is averaging about 300 yards a game. That looks pretty consistant to this old set of eyes. Even if not a Tony Romo.

[percyhoward]

With the Cowboys, and a starter...it looks to me that he is averaging about 300 yards a game. That looks pretty consistant to this old set of eyes. Even if not a Tony Romo.
The yards have never been a problem for Kitna. It's the overall picture (like TD/INT ratio as somebody said earlier) of inconsistency that makes him average. It's rare for him to put 3 good games together.

For example, Romo has had 3-game stretches of 90+ ratings SIX different times already in his career. Kitna has started almost twice as many games as Romo and has only done it THREE times.

[Cover 2]

Now that's a great team player. We're lucky to have Kitna.
He's a close to perfect backup quarterback IMO. The only way he could be better is if he were Brady or Warner.

[MachPilot]

Tony is not stupid. Hes a franchise QB and one of the very best. He sees whats happening with Dez. Hes not going to ignore the most talented player on the team when he returns.

Doc

[TheCount]

So Kitna declared himself Dez's mentor, huh? Interesting.

I thought Irvin was Dez' mentor.

[STSINAZ]

Dez Could Be Better Than Michael When Its All Said And Done...there Is Alot Of Ground To Cover Before That But It Could Be Done With His Talent!

[Clove]

The yards have never been a problem for Kitna. It's the overall picture (like TD/INT ratio as somebody said earlier) of inconsistency that makes him average. It's rare for him to put 3 good games together.

For example, Romo has had 3-game stretches of 90+ ratings SIX different times already in his career. Kitna has started almost twice as many games as Romo and has only done it THREE times.I think you also have to look at things like what teams they've been on, the talent they were surrounded with, etc... Steve Young was no more than average until he came to an amazing team, then "hall of famer"

Anyways, I'm not going to bash Romo in this thread, I've always liked Romo personally, I just want a Super Bowl victory, I don't care who's in charge of bringing it to us, Romo, or Kitna or someone else out there. I do think Romo can learn a lot from watching a veteren, I'm pretty sure Romo is licking his chops to get on the field and play with Dez now, so we'll see.

[WoodysGirl]

DC.COM Blog: Great Analogy For QB-WR Relationship

Posted by rphillips at 11/16/2010 11:44 AM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Fourteen years in the business, quarterback Jon Kitna knows exactly how to get the most production from his wide receivers.

You have to listen to them, just like in a marriage, he says. Roses are nice, but only if your wife prefers them.

"Dez likes the ball up in the air, so you try to get the ball up in the air. Miles likes the ball a little flatter, so you try to show it a little flatter. Witt likes it the ball thrown inside his body cylinder. You just try to learn those things about guys."

Read more: http://www.truebluefanclub.com/blogs/rob_phillips.cfm?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&userid=e062d34a-fb8f-4a56-ba5a-fb802447d7f5&plckPostId=Blog%3ae062d34a-fb8f-4a56-ba5a-fb802447d7f5Post%3ac23defaa-159f-428c-a43b-fc39a663b18a&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

[Primetime42]

DC.COM Blog: Great Analogy For QB-WR Relationship

Posted by rphillips at 11/16/2010 11:44 AM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Fourteen years in the business, quarterback Jon Kitna knows exactly how to get the most production from his wide receivers.

You have to listen to them, just like in a marriage, he says. Roses are nice, but only if your wife prefers them.

"Dez likes the ball up in the air, so you try to get the ball up in the air. Miles likes the ball a little flatter, so you try to show it a little flatter. Witt likes it the ball thrown inside his body cylinder. You just try to learn those things about guys."

Read more: http://www.truebluefanclub.com/blogs/rob_phillips.cfm?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&userid=e062d34a-fb8f-4a56-ba5a-fb802447d7f5&plckPostId=Blog%3ae062d34a-fb8f-4a56-ba5a-fb802447d7f5Post%3ac23defaa-159f-428c-a43b-fc39a663b18a&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest
I feel like Drew Bledsoe said that about TO.

<shudder>

[jblaze2004]

Now, this was a really good topic for a story. *Much* more interesting than Marion Barber's Pants.

ewww marion barber pants:omg:

[5Stars]

The yards have never been a problem for Kitna. It's the overall picture (like TD/INT ratio as somebody said earlier) of inconsistency that makes him average. It's rare for him to put 3 good games together.

For example, Romo has had 3-game stretches of 90+ ratings SIX different times already in his career. Kitna has started almost twice as many games as Romo and has only done it THREE times.


You do know he came from the Lions, right?

You can't base past performance on a crappy team to what he has now.

Plus, he's only been taking first team reps since Romo went down...it's not like he's been a starter for the whole season!

He's doing a real good job ever since he was inserted into the starting lineup.

Stats don't mean a thing, unless YOU want then to.

[5Stars]

Dez Could Be Better Than Michael When Its All Said And Done...there Is Alot Of Ground To Cover Before That But It Could Be Done With His Talent!


Your CAPS lock is on...!!

[SupermanXx]

Your CAPS lock is on...!!

:laugh2:

[Future]

I wonder if Kitna would make a good QB coach or maybe even OC somewhere down the line.

[5Stars]

I wonder if Kitna would make a good QB coach or maybe even OC somewhere down the line.


Easy now...


:laugh2:

[NeOnDeioN]

Unfortunately this is true.

Romo's consistency is one of the main things that set him apart from an average QB like our backup--who still is better than anybody who started for us at that position between Aikman and Romo.



Bledsoe is better than kita

Randall Cunningham is better than kitna

[Heisenberg]

Bledsoe is better than kita

Randall Cunningham is better than kitna

Ehhhhh. I'm not sure about Bledsoe. Early in his career maybe, but the Bledsoe that we had here in Dallas? He couldn't move at all and eventually couldn't throw it very well either.

[5Stars]

Bledsoe is better than kita

Randall Cunningham is better than kitna


Here comes daboy214 tag team partner...

You guys...I hope the mods are keeping their eyes on you two yo-yo's.


:cool:

[Blast From The Past]

Now that's a great team player. We're lucky to have Kitna.Another reason we need Kitna is this very reason, not only can he still play at a high competitive level but he is a good mentor for the youngens but also probably helps Tony with a few things at his position as well.

[Blast From The Past]

I agree and I have seen several shot with Romo on the bench talking with Kitna through out the game.Gives Tony time to sit back and observe some things, view the games in a different perspective for a little while. Maybe he will see things he didn't see before.